I-90 bridge work will affect traffic in North East

Online Extras

ONLINE MAP: To view an online map of construction and road work projects going on around Erie in the Spring/Summer of 2013, click here.

NORTH EAST -- Pennsylvania Department of Transportation officials say a construction project starting next week could cause traffic congestion on Interstate 90 for the next month and a half.

PennDOT officials said rehabilitation of two bridges over Route 89 in North East Township will begin Monday.

The project is expected to extend the lives of the bridges at least 30 years.

Both box-beam bridges were built in 1959.

An average of about 11,300 vehicles travel the 159-foot-long eastbound bridge each day, and about 11,530 use the 184-foot westbound bridge.

Work will include patching concrete, adding concrete shoulders, and updating drainage, guardrails and pavement markings.

Lane restrictions will start Monday for both eastbound and westbound lanes as crews begin prep work for the construction. Long-term lane restrictions will be in place on Aug. 5, when construction work is expected to pick up. The project could be completed by Sept. 13.

Detours aren't expected for most vehicles, but motorists are warned to expect congestion and delays. Vehicles over 13 feet wide will be rerouted to avoid the construction.

The project, funded by the state, is expected to cost $948,697, and will be done by Mekis Construction Corp. of Butler County.

Construction work will be completed during the day and night, but only one direction will be affected at a time. Westbound traffic will be affected for portions of 11 days, while eastbound lanes will be restricted on 15 days.

PennDOT officials said those schedules could change.

A number of businesses exist near where the construction will take place. They include a Holiday Inn Express hotel, a Super 8 Motel, Snider's Shell gas station and Lake View Country Club.

Jay Shah, owner of the Holiday Inn Express, said he doesn't think the construction work will have a big effect on his business.

"It's already a busy road," he said. "It's not going to hurt anything."

Shah said if the construction does cause some people to shy away, those travelers will likely be headed east because eastbound traffic would have to travel under the bridges during construction to get to his hotel. But he doesn't expect that to have a sizable effect on his bottom line.